ABUJA 

Botswana's president on Thursday quarantined himself after an employee in the presidential office was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, announced the country’s communications secretary.

Due to the discovery of a positive COVID-19 test result last night on one of the officials closely serving President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the usual disease precautionary protocols have been activated, said Andrew Sesinyi, the government communications' permanent secretary, in a statement.

Some of president’s inner circle of officials are also in quarantine, it added.

The population of Botswana is approximately 2.2 million, and the country has so far registered 227 cases, with one fatality from the disease.

* Writing by Havva Kara Aydin in Ankara.